The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 01, 2001
Filed:
May. 04, 2000
Mark A. Davis, St. Paul, MO (US);
Glen G. Fournie, Smithton, IL (US);
John P. Moran, Herculaneum, MO (US);
Clarence L. Walker, St. Louis, MO (US);
Angela M. Noecker, Richmond Heights, MO (US);
Sherwood Services, AG, , CH;
Abstract
A valve device is disclosed which is incorporated into the lower portion of a drip chamber for preventing the free flow of fluid through a tube assembly when the tube assembly is disengaged from a pump of a fluid administration system, while permitting fluid flow when the tube assembly is engaged around a rotor of the pump. The valve device comprises a valve body having a top component sealingly engaged with a bottom component. The top component is integrally formed with the lower portion of the drip chamber and defines a plurality of axial fluid passageways formed around a stationary plunger which seals against a opening formed at the upper portion of the bottom component. The opening is in communication with a lumen that extends into a hollow tube assembly which is attached to the bottom component of the valve body. The bottom component further includes a flex joint made of a flexible material that is adapted to flex and pull the opening away from the plunger to establish fluid flow through the valve device. In operation, a user applies a tensile force along the tube assembly by engaging the tube assembly around a rotor of a pump which pulls the flex joint away from the plunger and opens the valve device to fluid flow therethrough. When the tube assembly is disengaged from the rotor the flex joint is forced back to its original position such that the plunger is sealed against the opening, thereby preventing fluid free flow through the fluid administration system.